Tape projection device



Oct. 3, 1939. FRANKLIN 2,l74,557

TAPE PROJECTION DEVICE Original Filed July 29, 1935 Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES TAPE PROJECTION DEVICE David Franklin, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to T'ans-Lux Movie Ticker Corporaton, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of Delaware Application July 29, 1935, Serial No. 33,730 Renewed September 12, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a projector for ticker tape or the like.

The invention has particularly to do with a device of few parts and of great reliability for moving a ticker tape periodically as it comes from a ticker machine across a beam of light to allow projection of characters on the tape upon a screen.

Tape projection machines have heret-cfare pulied the tape across a glass table through which a beam of light was projected. The pulling device made firm contact with the tape, and a switch or other mechanism was operated by an arm actuated by a loop of tape to control the pulling device and prevent breakage of the tape. In spite of the complicated mechanism tape breakage occurred. The devices had many complicated parts and were frequently out of order.

The present invention avoids such difficulties and provides new reliability of performance.

The objects of the invention include amon others, the provision of the following:

An improved tape projection device;

Unique tape holding means;

An improved tape moving drive;

Improved means for automatically moving a periodically fed tape; and

Improved automatic means for a tape moving mechanism.

These objects, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, are obtained by the novel arrangement and Construction of elements hereinafter described and claimed. A machine embodying the invention is illustrated in the acccmpanying single sheet of drawings hereby made a part of this application and in which;

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through a tape projection machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the device of Figure 1 on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view of the tape holding mechanism of the same machine on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The present embodiment of the invention is housed in a box or container ll! which may be of wccd or metal or other suitable material. The box i@ is rectangular in plan. In the top of the box near one end thereof is a tape trough il having a bottom portion !2 slightly wider than the tape which is intended to pass therethrough. Above the bottom portion l2 the sides of the trough li may flare outwardly. The trough il extends entirely across the short dimension of the box and is open at the ends. A portion of the floor of the bottom portion l2 of the trough comprises a plano-convex lens [3, plane face upward. Guide ledges, not shown, may extend the length of the trough just above lens 13, protruding a short distance into the trough. The ledges help to prevent the tape from buckling upwards.

The tape is moved across the lens 13 by a motor !4, which may be of any type such as the ordinary rapidly turning electric motor with a speed reduction device l5, or a low constant speed motor of the type commonly known as a Telechron motor, without speed reduction. Motor |4 may be Secured to the bottom of box H) by a bracket !6. A shaft I'I extends from the speed reducer !5 to below the floor of the trough ll. A tape moving roller l8 is mounted on shaft l'l and extends substantially across the floor of the trough; The fioor of the trough is cut away at [9 and roller |8 extends through the aperture thus made so that the top face of the roller is approximately level with the top surface of the bottom of the trough.

The roller l8 may be smooth or may be lightly corrugated or knurled. It should be of a material such as metal which will not pull heavily on a tape in contact with the top of the roller. Roller [8 lies crosswise of trough H and has its plane of rotation parallel to the long ax's of trough ll.

Directly above the center of roller I 8 is an idler pressure wheel 20. Wheel is mounted on a pin 2| which is carried at right angles to an arm 22 and extends at right angles to the long axis of trough ll. Arm 22 is parallel to long axis of trough H and is mounted on a shaft 23. Shaft 23 has pointed ends. One pointed end rests in a socket in one wall of trough ll.. The other end of shaft 23 is carried by a socket in the end of an adjusting screw 31. Shaft 23 is threaded at the ends and a plurality of spacing washers'38 locate the arm 22 in a selected position on the shaft. The position is changed by moving washers from one side to the other. Nuts 39 hold the washers 38 in place. Where desired the washers may be dispensed with and the shaft 23 threaded its whole length, the nuts 39 then holding the said arm 22 directly. The position of the arm is changed by changing the positions of the nuts. Wheel 20 is held against roller IB only by its own weight and the weight of pin 2! and arm 22. Wheel 20, pin 21 and arm 22 are of light Construction to avoid heavy contact between wheel 20 and roller !8. The wheel 20 has a narrow periphery to enable it to pass between rows of characters on a tape without smearing them.

Below the lens !3 at the bottom of trough ll is a mirror 25. A projection type lamp 26 and a condenser 21, which may include a water cooling chamber zla, are placed to direct a beam of light against mirror 25. Mirror is angularly set on a bracket 28 and reflects the beam of light upward through lens l3. A ventilator 25 may be placed in the top of the box n above furniture or to the machine.

the lamp 26, and ventilating holes 30 may be cut in the wall of box o adjacent lamp 26. A concave mirror 3l may be placed behind lamp 26. Lamp 26 may be tilted to a position at a right angle to the axis of the condenser 21.

An arm 32 may be secured to the side wall of box n. The top of arm 32 coincides with the top of the floor of trough ll. Arm 32 is at the side of box away from roller !8. The face of arm 32 is level near the wall of box ID and further away from the box rises slightly and then curves downward. At the outer end of arm 32 a cavity 33 is provided to receive a fine wire brush 34 or a piece of tinsel or the like, the ends of the bristles of which eXtend slightly beyond the end of arm 32.

A ticker tape 35 is fed into the bottom part !2 of groove ll at the side near roller !8. The tape %is passed between roller l8 and wheel 20 and is allowed to slide across lens i 3 on the floor of thetrough. .Ticker tape 35 comes from a ticker machine which prints stock quotations or other data on the tape. The movement of the tape from the ticker machine is intermittent.

Motor 14 ,is turned on, causing roller !8 to revolve. The speed of rotation of roller |8 is such that its periphery moves at a speed approximately equal to the speed at which tape 35 comes from the ticker machine in its periods of motion, Motor M and roller ia operate continuously. Vfhile tape 35 is moving from the ticker machine roller 20 presses the tape 35 against roller l8 and the peripheral movement of roller !3 is transmitted to the tape 35, which moves across lens !3. The tape 35 is pushed and not pulled across lens [3 and out of the box over arm 32. The conformation of arm 32 is such that it accommodates the upward loop of the tape caused by the end of the tape dropping down from the end of the arm. The Weight of the length of tape below arm 32 may create a slight pull on the tape within the trough, aiding in the movement of the tape.

The wire brush or tinsel 34 picks up charges of static electricity from the moving tape and keeps the tape from sticking to the articles of Brush 34 may be grounded to carry away the charges of electricity.

When the tape 35 sto-ps moving from the ticker machine the continued rotation of roller [8 tightens the tape between the roller and the ticker machine. The pressure of wheel 20, however, is such that while the movement of roller 58 is communicated to the tape when the tape is free to move the roller a, it merely slides under the tape 35 when the movement of the tape from the ticker machine is stopped. The selected light pressure of wheel 2@ provides an automatic clutch mechanism which allows the tape to move or stop according to the operation ofthe ticker machine and without danger of breaking the tape, while roller !8 continues to turn. The tape, while thin and fiexible, is readily pushed by roller 18 across lens !3 and out of the trough. The tape lies flat on lens it because there is nothing to hold it away therefrom.

An ordinary projection lens or a series of lenses 33 focuses the image of the tape 35 upon ascreen. The images of the characters on the tape move across a screen while the tape is moving and stop when the tape is stopped.

Inasmuch as the motor and roller of the present device are allowed to operate constantly, no delicate switch mechanism is required. The wheel 22) and its carrying arms and shafts can not get out of order unless broken by impact or some other accident and then may be readily repaired or replaced. The lamp 26 may be readily replaced, as by removing ventilator 29, or through a door (not shown) into the box. The Simplicity and the lack of delicate moving parts allows a high degree of reliability.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a device for converting the intermittent feed of a tape as it is being supplied into a smooth uniform feed at the light aperture of a projection machine, the combination of a horizontally extending, extensive surface engaging support for engaging one face of the tape throughout both before arriving at the light aperture, while at the light aperture and after leaving the light aperture including an anterior area, an intermediate area forming a light aperture and a posterior area, the anterior area being interrupted to provide an opening, a continuously Operating tape pulling roller having its aXis extending transverse to and below said support with its periphery emerging at said opening and passing through a plane tangential thereto and parallel to and in alinement with the level of said support to facilitate intimate engagement of said tape pulling roller with the tape, and a pressure wheel disposed to rest on the tape and press the tape into feeding relation with said tape pulling roller, said tape pulling roller and pressure wheel being disposed in the anterior area of said support not only to push the tape across said support as the tape is supplied thereto but also to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the tape when being ,supplied to said support 2. In a device for converting the intermittent feed of a tape as it is being supplied into a smooth uniform feed at the light aperture of a projection machine, the combination of a horizontally extending, extensive surface engaging support for engaging one face of the tape throughout both before arriving at the light aperture, while at the light aperture and after leaving the light aperture including an anterior area, an intermediate area forming a light aperture and a posterior area, the anterior area being interrupted to provide an opening, a continuously Operating tape pulling roller having its axis extending transverse to and below said support with its periphery emerging at said opening and passing through a plane tangential thereto and parallel to and in alinement with the level of said support to facilitate intimate engagement of said tape pulling roller with the tape, a pressure wheel disposed to rest on the tape and press the tape into feeding relation with said tape pulling roller, said tape pulling roller and pressure wheel being disposed in the anterior area of said support not only to push the tape across said support as the tape is supplied thereto but also to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the tape when being supplied to said support, and an upwardly curved convex supporting face forming a continuation of said posterior area and terminating in a downwardly extending area to conform to the natural curve in the tape when passing from a horizontal plane to a vertically extending Suspended position and thereby protect the tape at the light aperture from bulging upwardly away from the supporting surface.

3. In a device for converting the intermittent feed of a tape as it is being supplied into a smooth uniform feed at the light aperture of a projection machine, the combination of a horizontally extending, extensive surface engaging support for engaging one face of the tape throughout both before arriving at the light aperture, while at the light aperture and after leaving the light aperture including an anterior area, an intermediate area forming a light aperture and a posterior area, the anterior area being interrupted to provide an opening, a continuously Operating tape pulling roller having its axis extending transverse to and below said support with its periphery emerging at said opening and passing through a plane tangential thereto and parallel to and in alinement with the level of said support to facilitate intimate engagement of said tape pulling roller with the tape, a pressure wheel disposed to rest on the tape and press the tape into feeding relation with said tape pulling roller, said tape pulling roller and pressure wheel being disposed in the anterior area of said support not only to push the tape across said support as the tape is supplied thereto but also to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the tape when being supplied to said support, an upwardly curved convex supporting face forming a continuation of said posterior area and terminating in a downwardly eXtending area to conform to the natural curve in the tape when passing from a horizontal plane to a vertically extending Suspended position and thereby protect the tape at the light aperture from bulging upwardly away from the supporting surface, and static discharge means engaging the tape at the discharge end of the posterior continuation to dissipate any static in the tape that might interfere with the smooth uniform discharge of the tape from said posterior continuation.

4. A tape projection device comprising a tape guiding trough, and a transparent support in the bottom of said trough through which light is transmitted to the tape, said support having an upwardly facing horizontally extending face, said trough having side walls fiaring upwardly and outwardly from said supporting face to facilitate locating the tape on said transparent support.

5. A tape projection device comprising a transparent support having a horizontally supporting face through which light is transmitted to the tape supported by said support, a continuously Operating tape puller having its axis extending transverse to and below said support with its. periphery passing through a plane tangential thereto and parallel to and in alinement with the level of said supporting face to facilitate intimate engagement of said tape puller with the tape, a shaft rotatably mounted above and transverse to the path of movement of the tape, an arm Secured to said shaft, a pressure wheel rotatably mounted at the free end of said arm, washers disposed to either side of said arm on said shaft to center said arm and thereby said wheel to engage the tape in a predetermined path between rows of printed matter, and nuts screw 'threadedly connected on said shaft to either side of said washers movable to adjust the position of such washers.

6. A tape projection device comprising a horizontally extending tape supporting light aperture, a tape puller having its axis extending transverse to and below said support with its periphery passing through a plane tangential thereto and parallel to and in alinement with the level of said supporting face to faoiltate intimate engagement of said tape puller with the tape, a shaft rotatably mounted above and transverse to the path of movement of the tape, an arm Secured to said. shaft, a pressure wheel rotatably mounted at the free end of said arm, washers disposed to either side of said arm on said shaft to center said arm and thereby said wheel to engage the tape in a predetermined path between rows of printed matter, and nuts screw threadedly connected on said shaf't to either side of said washers movable to adjust the position of such washers.

7. In a device for converting the intermittent feed of a tape as it is being supplied into a smooth uniforn feed at the light aperture of a projection machine, the combination of a horizontally extending, extensive surface engaging support for engaging one face of the tape throughout both before arriving at the light aperture, while at the light aperture and after leaving the light aperture including an anterior area, an intermediate area forming a light aperture and a posterior area, the anterior area being interrupted to provide an opening, a tape pulling roller, a pressure wheel disposed to rest on the tape and press the tape into feeding relation with said tape pulling roller, said tape pulling roller and pressure wheel being disposed at the anterior area of said support not only to push the tape across said support as the tape is supplied thereto but also to iron out the vibrations transmitted to the tape when being supplied to said support, and an upwardly curved convex supporting face forming a continuation of said posterior area and terminating in a downwardly extending area to conform to the natural curve in the tape when passing from a horizontal plane to a vertically extending Suspended position and thereby protect the tape at the light aperture from bulging upwardly away from the supporting surface.

8. In a device for converting the intermittent feed of a tape as it is being supplied into a smooth uniform feed at the light aperture of a projection machine, the combination of a horizontally eX- tending, extensive surface engaging support for engaging one face of the tape throughout both before arriving at the light aperture, while at the light aperture and after leaving the light aperture including an anterior area, an intermediate area forming a light aperture and a posterior area, the anterior area being interrupted to provide an opening, a tape pulling roller, a pressure wheel disposed to rest on the tape and press the tape into feeding relation with said tape pulling roller, said tape pulling roller and pressure wheel being disposed at the anterior area of said support not only to push the tape across said support as the tape is supplied thereto but also to iron the vibrations, transmitted. to the tape When being supplied to said support, an upwardly curved convex supporting face forming a continuation of said posterior area and terminating in a .downwardly extending area to conforrn to the natural curve in the tape when passing from a horizontal plane to a vertically extending suspended position and thereby protect the tape at the light aperture from bulging upwardly away from the supporting surface, and static discharge means engaging the tape at the discharge end of the posterior continuation to dissipate any static in the tape that might interfere with the smooth uniform discharge of the tape from said posterior continuation.

DAVID FRANKLIN. 

